Sexual Harrassment

Intercultural Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

University of Phoenix

Abstract

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Adler, 2007). Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations, as well as to a federal government. This paper will discuss how one may be a victim of sexual harassment due to cultural values and the solution in the workplace.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Some victims may be approached because of their cultural background. Many cultures are taught to be submissive to all men or whatever the case may be. Some victims are also intimidated by their supervisor whom may be of different ethnicity and/or cultural background thus creating a somewhat inferior environment for the victim. These values may be taken advantage of and is by any means and example of the cultural norm in the workplace.

Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of ways, including but not limited to the following: The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or man (same or different cultural backgrounds). The victim does not have to be the opposite sex. The harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee. The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive behavior. Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without